Pipe wrench



Oct. 17, 1944. THYSSE 2,360,454

PIPE WRENCH Filed Sept. 4, 1942 Fl E S *P /4 Hi INVENTOR.

',- 4 JOHN THYSSE BY Y Z Z Patented Oct. 17, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIPE WRENCH John Thysse, Alameda, Calif.

Application September 4, 1942, Serial No. 457,531

6 Claims.

The invention relates to pipe wrenches.

An object of the invention is to provide a pipe wrench which will permit gripping the pipe for rotation in either direction regardless of from which side of the pipe the wrench is applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrench which will not only permit gripping and rotation of the pipe in the above manner, but will provide for the automatic release of the jaws to prevent turning of the pipe in a reverse direction in repositioning the wrench for a new stroke.

A still further object is to incorporate the features of my invention in a standard design of wrench with a minimum change in construction of the latter.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure l is a side View of the wrench of my invention showing it with the jaws held in position as in the conventional wrench for turning the pipe in one direction.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, and showing the wrench applied to the pipe in the same manner, but with the parts positioned for rotatingthe pipe in the reverse direction.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the wrench shown in Figure 1 as seen from the open side of the wrench.

As illustrated in the drawing, the features of my invention are embodied in a pipe wrench of conventional design and construction, such type of wrench including a shank 4 having a handle 6 at one end and a jaw I at the other end provided with a serrated face 8. Connected to the shank 4 carrying the fixed jaw 1, for pivotal movement relative thereto is a jaw 9 having a serrated face l2 and provided with an extension I3 mounted in a block or yoke l l pivotally secured by a pin IE to the fixed jaw. The extension l3 extends through the block in more or less parallelism with the shank 4 and is provided with threads I! which engage a nut l8 mounted in the block and which may be turned to vary the distance between the jaws. The pivot I6 is positioned in such relation to the jaws that upon relative rotation of the shank and block about the pivotal axis the jaws will be swung toward or away from each other. In this way when a pipe, such as indicated at [9, is held between the jaws and the parts, positioned as viewed in Figure 1, a pull on the handle toward the left will cause the jaws to swing toward one another and thus grip the pipe for turning clockwise. After the pipe has been turned, the handle may be swung back for repositioning for a new stroke, the jaws due to the rocking of the block back about the pivot 16, receding from each other so that the wrench may be swung freely about the pipe without disengaging therefrom.

As will thus be clear, with the conventional structure as thus far described, the wrench may be used for turning the pipe in but one direction unless the wrench is removed from the pipe and replaced thereon in a reverse position. The modification of such wrench so that it may be utilized for rotating the pipe in either direction without requiring the removal of the wrench from and replacement on the pipe, and at the same time permitting the automatic release of the jaws for repositioning of the wrench on the pipe for new strokes, will now be described. In brief such modification comprises the provision of an additional pivotal or fulcrum point about which the block may be rocked with respect to the fixed jaw and s0 arranged that upon a rocking movement similar to what would cause a receding of the jaws if the axis of rotation was the pivot l6, a movement of the jaws toward each other will instead be effected. In this way as will be evident, by causing the block to rock upon either the one fulcrum or the other, the jaws may be caused to grip the pipe for rotation in one direction or the other. An important part in the arrangement is that the repositioning of the parts for effecting the gripping for rotation in either direction is brought about practically automatically; secondly, the rocking of the block about either fulcrum will not be interfered with by the other; and thirdly, in reversing the direction of movement of the wrench about the pipe after the jaws have been in gripping engagement therewith, the wrench parts will, regardless of which fulcrum had been utilized in producing the grip, be caused to assume a neutral position which may be readily maintained to enable the operator to remove the wrench from the pipe or to reposition the wrench about the pipe for another stroke without disengagement of the wrench.

As will be clear from the drawing, the pin is is located so that the axis of relative rotation of the jaws about the pin is on the shank 4 and close to the inner end of gripping face l2. In this way, practically all portions of such gripping face will partake of substantially the same movement to or from the movable jaw as the fixed jaw is rocked in the block. Positioned transversely opposite the pivot IE but adjacent the outer end of the face 8, is a fulcrum 2|, here shown as a fixed part of the shank and arranged to seat in a recessed bearing 22 formed in the top of the block. Preferably a fulcrum and cooperating bearing is provided at each side of the wrench. The axis of rotation of the jaws with respect to one another about the fulcrum point defined by the fulcrum 2| and bearing 22 i parallel to the axis of rotation about the pivot I6, and in view of this and the positioning of the fulcrum members 2| and 22 adjacent the outer end of the jaw, upon rocking of the jaws with such members as the fulcrum, practically all gripping surface of the one jaw will be moved toward or from the gripping surface of the other jaw, in substantially the same manner as effected by rotating the jaws about the axis of pivot l6, but in reverse manner.

As movement of the jaw members about the pivot IS in the normal operation of the wrench involves relative movement of the parts including fulcrum 2! and bearing 22, the fulcrum is positioned so as to lie clear of the bearing as the jaws are moved from fully contracted relation as regards rocking about pivot I6, to at least an appreciable receded relation and vice versa. This clearance insures freedom of action in the use of the wrench with pivot is to practically the same extent as if the additional fulcruming arrangement were absent. In the same way, since rocking of the jaws about the fulcrum and bearing 2! and 22 involves relative movement of the wrench parts at the pivot IS, the aperture 23 provided in the shank and in which the pivot is is mounted, is enlarged in a direction away from the jaw face l2 so that when the members 2! and 22 are engaged to move the jaws to or from the contracted position, the pin may move freely in the aperture and thereby permit operation of the wrench with the fulcrum 2| as readily as if the pivot l 6 were absent, it being noted however that in the present embodiment, th pin 16 is secured to the block and thus holds the shank and block in assembled relation.

It is important to understand that by reason of the clearances arranged for between the fulcrum and bearing, and between the pin and the portion of the shank providing aperture 23, the jaws are permitted to recede or to assume a neutral position when the jaws recede a given amount, whether the operation of the wrench is with the fulcrum or with the pivot pin. In view of this, after the direction of rotation of the wrench about the pipe axis is reversed, such as when a working stroke is completed and it is desired to reverse the movement of the wrench so as to reposition the wrench for a new stroke, the jaws will become automatically released from gripping engagement with the pipe and remain so until the next gripping stroke is initiated, In other words, the jaws Will remain in neutral fully receded relation until with either the pin held against the top of aperture 23, as shown in Figure 1, or the fulcrum held upon the bearing 22, as indicated in Figure 2, a relative rotation of the block and shank about the engaged members is effected. Should, as is also the case in the use of conventional pipe wrenches, the jaws fail to release after being placed in extremely tight gripping engagement with the pipe, expansion of the jaws may be readily effected by imparting a light jerk to the wrench and simultaneously turning the nut to slightly increase spread of the jaws. Likewise when the spread of the jaws as made by the nut is too great so that contraction of the jaws under operation either of the pivot or fulcrum, is not as effective as the particular job requires, a slight turning of the nut to decrease the adjusted spread of the jaws will insure the desired gripping engagement.

If desired, a spring 26 may be operatively interposed between the shank and block, as in the conventional pipe wrenches. In such case, how

ever, it is desirable that the arrangement of the spring be such that little or no pressure be exerted for moving the jaws together after the neutral position is attained.

I claim:

1. In a pipe wrench, a shank provided with a fixed jaw having a gripping face with inner and outer ends, a block, a jaw adjustably carried by the block having a gripping face arranged to overlie the gripping face of the fixed jaw, means connecting said shank and block for relative rotation therebetween about an axis extending crosswise relative to the jaws and perpendicular to the direction of adjustment thereof and located adjacent the inner end of the fixed jaw whereby upon relative rotation between the shank and block in one direction the greater portion of the gripping face of the fixed jaw will be moved toward the gripping face of the other jaw and in the reverse direction the said portion of the fixed jaw will be moved away from the other jaw, and cooperating portions on said shank and block engageable to provide an axis parallel to the first axis but adjacent the outer end of the gripping face of the fixed jaw for relative rotation between the shank and block whereby upon such rotation in the direction first mentioned the greater portion of the gripping surface of the fixed jaw will be moved from the gripping face of the other jaw and when rotated reversely the movement will be to place the faces in closer relation, said connecting means and said cooperating portions being each arranged for movement into and out of operative position and cooperatively associated to move one out of operative position when the other is moved into operative position, and said connecting means providing for slidable relationship between said shank and block to effect said movements into and out of operative position.

2. In a pipe wrench, the combination with a shank having a fixed jaw and a block pivotally and slidably connected thereto adjacent the rear end of the jaw, said block having adjustably carried thereon a jaw member with a jaw portion arranged to overlie the fixed jaw, and separable cooperating fulcrum and bearing portions on said shank and block providing independently of said pivotal connection of the shank and block a rotational axis for the shank and block parallel to the axis of the pivotal connection aforesaid but adjacent the front end of said jaw.

3. In a pipe wrench, a shank having a fixed jaw, a block pivotally and slidably connected to said shank having adjustably carried thereby a jaw member with a jaw portion arranged for cooperation with the fixed jaw, and laterally spaced pairs of cooperating parts on the shank and block, each pair formed to provide for relative rotation of the shank and block about an axis spaced from and parallel to the axis of rotation provided by the other pair, and with one axis disposed nearer one end and the other axis disposed nearer the other end of the fixed jaw.

4. In a pipe wrench, a shank having a fixed jaw and a block carrying an adjustably positionable jaw, and means connecting said shank and block including a fulcrum and cooperating bearing thereon engageable with each other to provide an axis of rotation between the shank and block adjacent one end of the fixed jaw, and a fulcrum and cooperating bearing on the shank and block engageable with each other to provide an axis of rotation between the shank and block parallel to but spaced from said first axis, each of said fulcrums and the cooperating bearing being positionable in or out of operative relation, and said shank and block being operative to position one fulcrum and its bearing out of operative relation when the other is positioned in operative relation, and said connecting means providing for slidable relationship between said shank and block to effect said movements into and out of operative position.

5. In a pipe wrench, a shank member having a fixed jaw with a gripping surface, a block member having adjustably held therein a movable jaw with a jaw portion arranged for positioning in opposed relation to the gripping portion of the fixed jaw, means pivotally connecting said members including a pin in the one engaging in a bearing opening in the other and located adjacent one end of said gripping portion, and a fulcrum on one of said members and a cooperating bearing therefor on the other member relatively movable to separate and engageable to provide an axis of rotation between the members parallel to the axis of said pivotal connection but adjacent the other end of the said gripping portion and being formed to become inoperatively related on relative movement of said members, said bearing opening being extended to permit inoperative or operative positioning with said pin, and said members formed to move said ful- 'crum and cooperating bearing in operative engaged relation when the pin is inoperatively held in said opening.

6. In a pipe wrench, a shank provided with a fixed jaw having a gripping face with inner and outer ends, a block, a jaw adjustably carried by the block having a gripping face arranged to overlie the gripping face of the fixed jaw, means connecting said shank and block for relative rotation therebetween about an axis extending crosswise relative to the jaws and perpendicular to the direction of adjustment thereof and located adjacent the inner end of the fixed jaw whereby on relative rotation between the shank and block in one direction the greater portion of the gripping face of the fixed jaw will be moved toward the gripping face of the other jaw and in the reverse direction the said portion of the fixed jaw will be moved away from the other jaw, said means including a pin on the block engaging a bearing opening in the shank, and cooperating portions on said shank and block including a fulcrum in the shank adjacent the outer end of the fixed jaw gripping portion and a bearing on the block relatively movable to the fulcrum and engageable to provide an axis parallel to the first axis for relative rotation between the shank and block whereby upon such rotation in the direction first mentioned the greater portion of the gripping face of the fixed jaw will be moved away from the gripping face of the other jaw and when rotated reversely the movement will be to place the faces in closer relation, the said bearing opening for the pin being extended so that the pin may be positioned in operative or inoperative engagement therewith and the fulcrum and bearing being positioned relative to the shank and block as to be held in or out of operative relation in a certain relative position of the shank and block and such that when the pin is operatively positioned in the opening the fulcrum and bearing will be disengaged whereas when the fulcrum and bearing are engaged the pin will be free of bearing engagement in the opening.

JOHN THYSSE. 

